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NCAA Proposes 10-Day Transfer Window, New 2027 Schedule

6/25/2026

Summary

NCAA Revises Calendar

The NCAA Oversight Committee proposed a 10-day transfer portal window opening Jan. 2, replacing the Jan. 2-16 window.
Schools could hold two out-of-season periods for 21 practices, each up to five weeks and not exceeding seven weeks.
The preseason schedule would allow 21 practices over 27 days, four fewer than the current 25.
If approved, the changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027, moving the season start to Week 0 with a 14-week, 12-game schedule.

Summary

NCAA Approves 5-Year

The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved a “5-for-5” model granting athletes five years of competition within a five-year span, ending redshirt seasons and sport-specific limits starting fall 2027.
The rule permits eligibility pauses for pregnancy, active-duty military service, or religious missions when the athlete does not compete.
Extension-waiver requests for those who finished the 2025-26 season must be filed by July 31 2026, with Wisconsin RB Abu Sama and WR Jaylon Domingeaux each gaining a year amid lawsuits.

History

Historical Context

The NCAA first broadened eligibility in 1972 by letting freshmen play varsity football, setting a precedent for later transfer and redshirt reforms. In 2018 the council limited redshirt use to four games, and the 2024 Division I Cabinet now proposes a ten-day portal and a five-for-five model that could extend Wisconsin running back Abu Sama’s career. These steps reflect the association’s ongoing rule adjustments.

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NCAA Revises Calendar

The NCAA Oversight Committee proposed a 10-day transfer portal window opening Jan. 2, replacing the Jan. 2-16 window.
Schools could hold two out-of-season periods for 21 practices, each up to five weeks and not exceeding seven weeks.
The preseason schedule would allow 21 practices over 27 days, four fewer than the current 25.
If approved, the changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027, moving the season start to Week 0 with a 14-week, 12-game schedule.

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